Difference between revisions of "Frederick Tower Hamilton"

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Hamilton succeeded Vice-Admiral Scott in command of the [[Fifth Cruiser Squadron (Royal Navy)|Fifth Cruiser Squadron]] on 16 February, 1909.<ref>''Hazell's Annual, 1910''.  p. 199.</ref>
 
Hamilton succeeded Vice-Admiral Scott in command of the [[Fifth Cruiser Squadron (Royal Navy)|Fifth Cruiser Squadron]] on 16 February, 1909.<ref>''Hazell's Annual, 1910''.  p. 199.</ref>
  
On 5 December, 1911, Hamilton was appointed in command of the Third and Fourth Divisions of the [[Home Fleet (Royal Navy)|Home Fleet]], which in 1912 became the [[Second Fleet (Royal Navy)|Second]] and [[Third Fleet (Royal Navy)|Third Fleets]] of the [[Home Fleets (Royal Navy)|Home Fleets]].<ref>"Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices).  ''The Times''.  Tuesday, 14 October, 1913.  Issue '''40342''', col F, pg. 6.</ref>  He was confirmed in the rank of {{ViceRN}} on 31 July, 1912.<ref>''London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/28632/pages/5723 no. 28632.  p. 5723.]  2 August, 1912.</ref>  He was succeeded by Vice-Admiral [[Cecil Burney|Sir Cecil Burney]] at Sheerness on 5 December, 1913.<ref>"Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices).  ''The Times''.  Friday, 5 December, 1913.  Issue '''40387''', col A, pg. 6.</ref>
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On 5 December, 1911, Hamilton was appointed in command of the Third and Fourth Divisions of the [[Home Fleet (Royal Navy)|Home Fleet]], which in 1912 became the [[Second Fleet (Royal Navy)|Second]] and [[Third Fleet (Royal Navy)|Third Fleets]] of the [[Home Fleets (Royal Navy)|Home Fleets]].<ref>"Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices).  ''The Times''.  Tuesday, 14 October, 1913.  Issue '''40342''', col F, pg. 6.</ref>  He was confirmed in the rank of {{ViceRN}} on 31 July, 1912.<ref>''London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/28632/pages/5723 no. 28632.  p. 5723.]  2 August, 1912.</ref> 
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Hamilton was appointed an Ordinary Member of the Second Class, or Knight Commander, in the Military Division of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (K.C.B.) on 1 January, 1913.<ref>''London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/28677/supplements/1 no. 28677.  p. 1.]  1 January, 1913.</ref>  He was succeeded by Vice-Admiral [[Cecil Burney|Sir Cecil Burney]] at Sheerness on 5 December.<ref>"Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices).  ''The Times''.  Friday, 5 December, 1913.  Issue '''40387''', col A, pg. 6.</ref>
  
 
In May, Fisher inquired of Jellicoe as to whether Hamilton would be a suitable successor to him as Second Sea Lord:
 
In May, Fisher inquired of Jellicoe as to whether Hamilton would be a suitable successor to him as Second Sea Lord:

Revision as of 07:57, 25 July 2011

Admiral Sir Frederick T. Hamilton seen as a Flag Officer afloat.

Admiral SIR Frederick Tower Hamilton, G.C.V.O., K.C.B., Royal Navy (8 March, 1856 – 4 October, 1917) was an officer of the Royal Navy during the First World War.

Life & Career

Hamilton was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant with seniority of 6 November, 1879.[1]

In 1881 Hamilton was one of five officers selected to qualify in torpedo duties (another was Lieutenant Henry B. Jackson).[2]

Hamilton was appointed in command of the torpedo school ship Defiance at Devonport on 1 November, 1897.[3] He was promoted to the rank of Captain on 1 January, 1898,[4] and was re-appointed in command of Defiance.[5]

On 18 March, 1902 he was appointed to the battleship Bulwark as Flag Captain to Admiral Sir Compton E. Domvile, new Commander-in-Chief in the Mediterranean.[6]

Hamilton was appointed to command Excellent on 24 February, 1905.[7]

Hamilton's appointment as Inspector of Target Practice in succession to Rear-Admiral Sir Percy M. Scott was announced in May, 1907.[8] He was appointed, as Commodore, Second Class, on 15 July.[9]

Flag Rank

Hamilton was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral on 1 October, 1907.[10]

Hamilton succeeded Vice-Admiral Scott in command of the Fifth Cruiser Squadron on 16 February, 1909.[11]

On 5 December, 1911, Hamilton was appointed in command of the Third and Fourth Divisions of the Home Fleet, which in 1912 became the Second and Third Fleets of the Home Fleets.[12] He was confirmed in the rank of Vice-Admiral on 31 July, 1912.[13]

Hamilton was appointed an Ordinary Member of the Second Class, or Knight Commander, in the Military Division of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (K.C.B.) on 1 January, 1913.[14] He was succeeded by Vice-Admiral Sir Cecil Burney at Sheerness on 5 December.[15]

In May, Fisher inquired of Jellicoe as to whether Hamilton would be a suitable successor to him as Second Sea Lord:

However, what I am really writing to you about is to ask you whether you are sure that Hamilton will LOYALLY and WHOLEHEARTEDLY carry out the Osborne scheme and all its tributaries, such as Keyham etc., because (this is sacredly private) the King and his pimps are starting another crusade to revert to the old lines, and Hamilton is a bosom friend of the King, who calls him by his Christian name and who lends him a cottage at Sandringham, and his wife is Colin Keppel's sister! Will he be able to resist the courtly influences? If you would sooner not answer, then don't write. He is a better man as an administrator than Warrender. Don't you think so?[16]

Great War

In his diary on 7 June, Hamilton wrote:

On Saturday [3 June] I visited Rosyth … I found Beatty very well and cheerful but very angry with the Admiralty for their very stupid communiqué sent out on Friday evening which was really an apology for winning a victory. I subsequently on my return found that Masterton-Smith was the author of it, Jackson and Oliver having been too busy to attend to it properly and having told them to say anything they liked, as long as it was true.[17]

Hamilton was promoted to the rank of Admiral on 9 June, 1916.[18] On 1 July he assumed the appointment of Commander-in-Chief on the Coast of Scotland.[19]

Footnotes

  1. London Gazette: no. 24787. p. 6940. 28 November, 1879.
  2. "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Monday, 14 March, 1881. Issue 30141, col B, pg. 6.
  3. "Naval & Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Tuesday, 19 October, 1897. Issue 35338, col D, pg. 8.
  4. London Gazette: no. 26924. p. 7854. 31 December, 1897.
  5. "Naval & Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Saturday, 8 January, 1898. Issue 35408, col C, pg. 10.
  6. "Naval & Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Wednesday, 5 March, 1902. Issue 36707, col E, pg. 5.
  7. "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Tuesday, 31 January, 1905. Issue 37618, col E, pg. 6.
  8. "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Thursday, 30 May, 1907. Issue 38346, col F, pg. 5.
  9. "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Monday, 10 June, 1907. Issue 38355, col B, pg. 6.
  10. London Gazette: no. 28066. p. 6667. 4 October, 1907.
  11. Hazell's Annual, 1910. p. 199.
  12. "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Tuesday, 14 October, 1913. Issue 40342, col F, pg. 6.
  13. London Gazette: no. 28632. p. 5723. 2 August, 1912.
  14. London Gazette: no. 28677. p. 1. 1 January, 1913.
  15. "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Friday, 5 December, 1913. Issue 40387, col A, pg. 6.
  16. Fear God and Dread Nought. II. pp. 505-506.
  17. Diary entry of 7 June, 1916. National Maritime Museum. Hamilton Papers. HTN/106.
  18. London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 29621. p. 5828. 13 June, 1916.
  19. Supplement to the Monthly Navy List (September, 1917). p. 4.

Bibliography

  • "Death of Admiral Sir F. T. Hamilton" (Obituaries). The Times. Friday, 5 October, 1917. Issue 41601, col D, pg. 11.

Papers

Service Record


Naval Offices
Preceded by
Percy M. Scott
Commanding Officer of H.M.S. Excellent
1905 – 1907
Succeeded by
Reginald G. O. Tupper
Preceded by
Sir Percy M. Scott
Inspector of Target Practice
1907 – 1909
Succeeded by
Richard H. Peirse
Preceded by
Sir Percy M. Scott
Rear-Admiral Commanding,
Fifth Cruiser Squadron

1909 – 1911
Succeeded by
Cecil Burney
Preceded by
Prince Louis of Battenberg
Vice-Admiral Commanding, Second and Third Fleets
1911 – 1913
Succeeded by
Sir Cecil Burney
Preceded by
Sir John R. Jellicoe
Second Sea Lord
1914 – 1916
Succeeded by
The Hon. Sir Somerset A. Gough-Calthorpe
Preceded by
Sir Robert S. Lowry
Commander-in-Chief, Coast of Scotland
1916 – 1917
Succeeded by
Sir Cecil Burney